Roots from a tree planted by the Town of Smithtown years ago has buckled part of the sidewalk and the apron of our driveway making it extremely difficult for us to use our driveway. My husband uses a wheelchair. He's tipped over because of the problem. The town was notified several times and nothing has been done.
--Sue and Curt Hoaglund, Kings Park
Happy New Year!
After the retired couple contacted us, we called the town's Parks, Building and Grounds Department, which is responsible for sidewalk repair, last month.
When the Hoaglunds returned from a recent trip, the buckled driveway apron and sidewalk had been repaired.
Curt Hoaglund said he'd been trying to get the apron fixed for eight years, when he first began using a wheelchair. The buckling got worse over time, but he was still unable to get it repaired.
William Murphy, the town's director of Parks, Building and Grounds, said an inspector was sent to the Hoaglunds home after our call. "We looked at it and it really needed to be done, so we just did it," he said.
There's a huge backlog of homeowners in the town who want their sidewalks fixed, Murphy said, and the priority list of what gets done first is determined by a town inspection.
"It's virtually impossible to repair every sidewalk in town in one year." The town board allocates $1.4million-$1.5 million a year to repair sidewalks, but that's not nearly enough to fix all the sidewalks in one paving season. The waiting list can be three or more years, Murphy said.
Town residents who feel their sidewalks need fixing can call the parks department at 631 269-1122.
Newsday photo by Ana P. Gutierrez
Also related to this topic:
*Suffolk County Handicapped Services
*The Disabilities Network of New York City (A coalition of consumers, advocates and professional organizations that support the disabled)
